Fire chief’s sex assault charges kept quiet

Toronto captain was arrested in November

A Toronto District Fire Chief once honoured as Communicator of the Year was quietly charged criminally with seven counts of sexual assault and three counts of criminal harassment in November, the

National Post has learned. The same decorated fireman also faces Human Rights Code complaints of sexual harassment, sexual solicitation, reprisal and discrimination with respect to employment because of sex and sexual orientation.

The female complainant in both sets of allegations is the same.

Among the people the court has ordered the accused not to communicate with are several city fire officials.

And yet neither the fire department, the police, nor the city of Toronto ever informed the public about the serious charges.

Peter Konoplicky, 63, was arrested on Nov. 22, 2012, by Toronto police for alleged incidents taking place on various dates between 2008 and 2010. The criminal harassment charges claim “threatening conduct” towards the woman, making her “fear for her safety,” according to information filed in court.

Mr. Konoplicky’s lawyer, Jody Berkes, declined to discuss the nature of the allegations.

“These matters are currently before the court and he intends to vigorously defend himself against those charges; we look forward to the opportunity for all the facts to come out at the appropriate time and in the appropriate forum,” said Mr. Berkes.

Mr. Konoplicky has made three court appearances in To-

ronto with a return date next month.

Through it all, the public was not told of the charges involving a ranking public official and fire colleagues.

Toronto Fire Services declined to answer questions about why the public was not notified of the charges, the circumstances of the complaints or the current status of the accused or complainant.

“Toronto Fire Services has no information to provide as the matter is now before the courts,” said Capt. Mike Strapko, a fire spokesman, after consulting with senior officials.

The charges were laid by detectives in Toronto police’s 32 Division Criminal Investigations Branch but information on them did not make its way to the police headquarter’s communications office.

“Our office was not, in fact, aware of this case until you called us,” said Meaghan Gray, spokeswoman for Toronto police. “Had corporate communications been made aware of this case at the time, we would have recommended that a news release would have been appropriate.”

She said she could not yet explain why information on the charges was not forwarded to public affairs.

In 2005 and 2006, Mr. Konoplicky was awarded service citations.

In August 2005 he helped manage a deluge of emergency calls during a heavy rainstorm. His team was credited for its smooth prioritizing of calls, calming the public and making sure that all emergency calls were dealt with promptly.

In 2006, he was part of a team credited with a dramatic rescue when a fast-burning apartment fire was held at bay long enough to rescue a trapped man and his cat.

That same year, as a Fire Captain, Mr. Konoplicky accepted the Communicator of the Year award at the 91-1 Appreciation Night on Rogers Centre field before the opening pitch of a Toronto Blue Jays game.

One award was given to each branch of the emergency service — fire, police and emergency medical personnel — in recognition of “skill, professionalism and care in dealing with complex emergency situations.”